This week’s letters focus on our piece about the unbearable dullness of Silicon Valley tycoons. Plus there is a defence of U2.

THE GEEK SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH
I agree there is simply insufficient criticism of tech-industry utopians and, frankly, tech-consumers [see Hodgkinson’s Register, Monday 1 December 2014].
I went to [LSE sociology professor] Judy Wajcman’s book launch at the LSE last week: Pressed for Time – the acceleration of life in digital capitalism. Anthony Giddens was chairing, and the very annoying and predictable Genevieve Bell from Intel [pretending to be a ‘good guy’ social scientist working on the inside of tech industry for the good of right-thinking people] was the respondent. Bell promises new algorithms that don’t point out exactly where the nearest skinny latte is, but offer serendipitous encounters and even help you get bored. Grrr. She also suggests that society needs people like Judy to move into Silicon Valley [because they need more ‘good guys’].
Wacjman tentatively suggested that we need to be more demanding of the kind of technology that is given to us, and hinted at the idea of responsible or even moral technological development, chivvied along by the state. All very tentative and polite though. Academia [and the state] is loath to attack the tech industry as there are so many vested interests at stake. At least she identified the problem of men – only 7% of the tech monster employees are female.
A walk in the park is always a refreshing solution to this mess.
Mike, London

Just a quick note to tell you that I agree with this… in my opinion, Lean In [by Sheryl Sandberg] was written by someone who had her mind frozen in the same bucket of liquid nitrogen used by her and her female ideal slave workers (facebook eggbar).
I threw the latest Economist out of the window, because three articles in a row were preaching gods invisible hand v2.0: now ruling  the markets of the new economy with absolute perfection. hurray.
The ethics of silicon valley got a somewhat critical (yet polite) analysis in the NYT the other day.
Sybe Izaak Rispens, Germany

Agree about Sheryl Whatsit’s husband. I wouldn’t want to sit next to him at a dinner party. Ghastly.
Luke Johnson, London

Sitting here in a giant metropolitan area of the US, surrounded by marketing and malls and the dogma of “American Exceptionalism” and all our other religious beliefs and then this newsletter arrives. This email is fucking great. Thank you.
John Passacantando

I also find really famous actors when interviewed really totally dull. To hear someone like Jessica Simpson rattle on about juggling bringing up a child with a full time career you’d think she’s the first multi-millionaire ever struggling with this work/life balance. Then they do that thing where they try to “connect” to what it is they must consider the average person and end up sounding patronizing. Oh, and those suited white men on Sky business news with Jeff Randall in their blue suits and red ties which they have read in some airport psychology themed book on self-betterment projects strength, assuredness and confidence, how totally boring are they? Rabbiting on about how share price shows market liquidity blah blah blah – I’d better stop now and go and have a decaf coffee.
John Marsden, London

I was sitting next to a child billionaire geek in LA, I think his voice had broken (he is the founder of one of those games, where you collect on line armies). He was so aspergic, he didn’t know what I was doing when I politely leant towards him to give him a good bye peck. I had to explain a kiss is a puckering of lips and released on contact with a cheek, usual on greeting and departing. He still didn’t get it. Actually maybe he was just appalled with my over familiarity.
Charlotte Studholme, London

I laughed at your review of Lean In and the power couple…who eat power bars of course!…Also the U2 fan clue of someone who most likely has not listened to anything progressive or new etc. as that would take time and effort in their world perspective!  I actually live in south SF near Silicon Valley after moving from London where I spent twenty years running a very enjoyable, engaging, creative, fun business. I would concur that people here seem to be running after their own tails trying to come up with the next billion (a million won’t do anymore) dollar idea. They don’t know how to play and idle is not a concept that I think they even understand.
I love your magazine and always look forward to your emails as it keeps me in touch with the importance of a creative life where you give space to ponder, wander, wonder etc.
Just wanted to say thank you!  Wonder if you would like to open a branch of The Idler Acadamy in Palo Alto!!!?
Wishing you a stroll-on-the-heath type of day!
Michelle Myers, California

Thank you for all your emails about the unbearable boredom of being in Silicon Valley. Keep ’em coming!

SHE HAS FOUND WHAT SHE’S LOOKING FOR
Just something comes spontaneous to mind, after reading your email: perhaps instead of boring yourself to death by reading The Sunday Times (no, seriously?) and make abstract prejudiced assumptions on how dull people who listen to U2 are, you could try to actually listen to some U2 music, but really listen and not read about it, or read about people who listen to it, or about the friends of people who listen to it, or what music critics write about it, etc etc etc.
Are you still awake? OK, so here’s my anti-boredom advice: just listen to the music, the real thing, give it a try, you’ll see that it works. Then you can go on to compile your “pre-edited” list of books that you think we should be reading.
Elisa, London

GROUP THERAPY
The book club sounds like a grand idea, would you also organise discussion groups on the books? That would be really interesting and fun!
Shen Khan, London
PS: thank you for the philosophy talk outside St Paul’s last week, that was marvellous!

We are looking into organising some sort of web forum so we can chat about the book club choices online.